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Answering call for medical professionals, West Sacramento man applies to help

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Updated: 10:30 AM PDT Apr 3, 2020

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PENDING. TEO: STEPPING IN TO SERVE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL EXPERIENCE ARE BEING CALLED TO FIGHT COVID-19. TONI: MELANIE WINGO CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THEM IN THE NATOMAS NEIGHBORHOOD. MELANIE: SLEEP TRAIN ARENA WHERE WE ARE THIS MORNING IS ONE OF THE SPOTS THAT HAS BEEN EARMARKED AS A PLACE THAT COULD SERVE AS A POTENTIAL MEDICAL FACILITY. THE STATES REALLY HAD TO TRY TO GET CREATIVE AS IT FILLS THE NEED OF POTENTIALLY A COVID-19 SEARCH IN PATIENTS. ALSO TO DEAL WITH THAT SURGE HAS PUT OUT THE CALL. HE ASKED ON MONDAY FOR VOLUNTEERS TO STEP FORWARD IF THEY HAD A MEDICAL BACKGROUND. BY TUESDAY HE SAID 25,000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO BE VOLUNTEERS. FRANCISCO RAMIREZ OF WEST SACRAMENTO IS ONE OF THEM. FRANCISCO HEARD ABOUT THE NEED OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE HIM. RIGHT AWAY HE KNEW HE WANTED TO SIGN UP. HE APPLIED ONLINE AT THE DISASTER HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEERS OF CALIFORNIA WEBSITE. HE SPENT 20 YEARS AS A LICENSED EMT. ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO HE LEFT THAT FAST-PACED ER LIFESTYLE AND NOW HELPS TO LEAD A MEDICAL SIMULATION PROGRAM. FRANCISCO SAYS HE WANTS TO HELP WHERE HE IS NEEDED MOST. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH VOLUNTEERING AT THIS TIME. >> THE WILLINGNESS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE OUTWEIGHS THE RISK IN THE BACK OF MY MIN MELANIE: THE DISASTER HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEERS ARE CALIFORNIA IS EXCEPTING VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS FOR THE CALIFORNIA BOTH COURT -- CALIFORNIA HEALTH CORPS. NEEDED ARE DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS, DENTISTS. THEY’RE LOOKING FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, NURSES AND NURSING STUDENTS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, AND MANY MORE. TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY OR TO SIGN UP YOU COULD HEAD OVER TO HEALTH CORE.CA.GOV. RETIREES WILL BE CONSIDERED, SOME STUDENTS WILL BECONSIDERED AS WELL. THOSE ARE BEING PROCESSED RIGHT NOW. EARLIER THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THAT THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE NEEDS TO BE BOTH UP TO MEET THIS COVID-19 SURGE BY ABOUT 37,000 INDIVIDUALS. DEFINITELY A HUGE DEMAND OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CARE BACKGROUNDS. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, HEAD TO

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Answering call for medical professionals, West Sacramento man applies to help

“If you have a background in health care, we need your help.” That's the call to action Gov. Gavin Newsom made to Californians earlier this week. He said California needs more medical professionals to meet the expected surge in coronavirus patients in the coming weeks. The governor put out that call Monday. By Tuesday, he said 25,000 people with medical backgrounds had already applied to be part of the new California Health Corps. Francisco Ramirez of West Sacramento is one of them. “I think this is my way of being able to help wherever possible and in any way that I can,” Ramirez said. Ramirez heard about the need for people just like him, and right away he knew he wanted to sign up. So he applied online.“I’ve done this going on 28 years now, and I don’t even think it’s praiseworthy to be honest,” said Ramirez. “You see that people need the help and you have that skill set to help in any way possible, and I’m more than happy to do it.” Ramirez worked as an EMT in the emergency room setting. Now, he works in a medical simulation program. So his experience makes him qualified to volunteer if there’s a surge in COVID-19 patients in California. He knows the risks, but said he can’t imagine not volunteering at this time. “It’s taking the necessary precautions that need to be taken and just going forward and trying to help as many people as you can,” said Ramirez. Somebody has to do it.”The Disaster Healthcare Volunteers of California program is still accepting applications for the California Health Corps. The governor signed an executive order to bulk up the health care workforce in this way.Needed are volunteers with the following backgrounds:Physicians (MD, DO) including medical studentsPharmacistsDentistsNurse practitionersPhysician assistantsNurses (RN, LVN, CNA) and nursing studentsBehavioral health professionals (psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, LCSW, LMFT, LPCC)Respiratory therapists Emergency medical techniciansTo see if you qualify or to sign up, head to healthcorps.ca.gov.The governor says it’s estimated California needs to increase its health care ranks by about 37,000 health care professionals to meet the anticipated COVID-19-related surge.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

“If you have a background in health care, we need your help.”

That's the call to action Gov. Gavin Newsom made to Californians earlier this week. He said California needs more medical professionals to meet the expected surge in coronavirus patients in the coming weeks.

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The governor put out that call Monday. By Tuesday, he said 25,000 people with medical backgrounds had already applied to be part of the new California Health Corps.

Francisco Ramirez of West Sacramento is one of them.

“I think this is my way of being able to help wherever possible and in any way that I can,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez heard about the need for people just like him, and right away he knew he wanted to sign up. So he applied online.

“I’ve done this going on 28 years now, and I don’t even think it’s praiseworthy to be honest,” said Ramirez. “You see that people need the help and you have that skill set to help in any way possible, and I’m more than happy to do it.”

Ramirez worked as an EMT in the emergency room setting. Now, he works in a medical simulation program. So his experience makes him qualified to volunteer if there’s a surge in COVID-19 patients in California.

He knows the risks, but said he can’t imagine not volunteering at this time.

“It’s taking the necessary precautions that need to be taken and just going forward and trying to help as many people as you can,” said Ramirez. Somebody has to do it.”

The Disaster Healthcare Volunteers of California program is still accepting applications for the California Health Corps. The governor signed an executive order to bulk up the health care workforce in this way.